FRENES

Coding agents · MCP server

Pdf MCP: MCP server, setup and security

Pdf MCP is an open-source MCP server that lets an AI agent search PDFs and selectively read pages, tables and OCR content. Its repository has 155 stars and its last commit is from October 24, 2026 and it is licensed under MIT.

Score
67/100
Adoption (stars) 22/40
Maintenance 30/30
Framework (licence, registry, official) 15/30
Actively maintained

What Pdf MCP does

According to its repository: “Agentic RAG over one PDF or a whole folder: hybrid search, selective page reads, tables, OCR.”

An MCP server gives an AI agent extra tools it calls during the conversation: the agent reads their description, decides to use them and gets the result back. Pdf MCP is listed under Coding agents, a category of 151 servers in the directory, where it ranks #61 by stars.

Topics declared by the repository: claude, document-processing, pdf, python, codex-cli, opencode.

Installing and connecting Pdf MCP

Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:

  • PyPI package (Python, started with uvx or pip)
  • MCPB bundle (one-click install in Claude Desktop)

Like any MCP server, you declare it in your client's configuration (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex…): a name, the command that starts it or its URL, and any environment variables. The client then starts it and lists its tools. Project language: Python.

Security: what to check

An MCP server runs code with the rights you give it, and the model reads its tool descriptions: a malicious or compromised server can hijack the agent. Read the code, or pick a maintained and widely used server, before connecting it.

None of the risk signals we track (system access, secrets, missing licence, abandonment) applies to Pdf MCP. That does not replace reading the code.

Good practice: grant only the rights needed (least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and run the AI agent security check.

Project activity and maintenance

Created on January 28, 2026, the jztan/pdf-mcp repository has 155 stars and 15 forks, with 1 open issues. It has more stars than 73% of the servers in the directory. It received changes this month. Version published in the registry: 3.5.0 (October 3, 2026).

Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.

Serena MCP: the IDE for yourSerena MCP: the IDE for your : 30.7K30.7KRepomixRepomix : 29K29KDesktop CommanderDesktop Commander : 10.1K10.1KOuroborosOuroboros : 6.3K6.3KClaude Code Ultimate GuideClaude Code Ultimate Guide : 6.2K6.2KClaude Code Explorer MCPClaude Code Explorer MCP : 3.4K3.4KArgentArgent : 3.1K3.1KAppllamaAppllama : 3K3KPdf MCPPdf MCP : 155155
GitHub stars of the most followed servers in the category (log scale); Pdf MCP in orange. Checked October 25, 2026.

Verdict

Pdf MCP is a reasonable choice; check the points below before connecting it.

Strengths

  • Active project: recent commit
  • Listed in the official MCP registry
  • Permissive licence (MIT)

Frequently asked questions

How do I install Pdf MCP?

Pdf MCP is distributed as PyPI package (Python, started with uvx or pip) and MCPB bundle (one-click install in Claude Desktop). Add it to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code…) following the README of jztan/pdf-mcp.

Is Pdf MCP free?

The code is published under the MIT licence and can be used free of charge.

Is Pdf MCP safe?

No risk signal found (system access, secrets, licence, abandonment). As with any MCP server, keep rights minimal and read the code before sensitive use.

Is it an official server?

Nothing says so: it is a project published by jztan on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.

What are the alternatives to Pdf MCP?

In the same category: Desktop Commander, Ouroboros, Repomix, and Claude Code Ultimate Guide. Desktop Commander and Ouroboros score higher on our grid.

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Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score